Injured Sheffield Eagles’ pair ‘desperate’ to get back

Matt Young

Sheffield Eagles injured duo Duane Straugheir and Steve Thorpe are set for an earlier than expected return from injury.

Director of rugby Mark Aston confirmed that should they get the green light both could potentially be in line for a return this Friday.

A comeback for both would come ahead of schedule and would be a welcome boost to Aston, who has also revealed Wales international Matty Fozard and winger Garry Lo are the latest names to suffer the injury curse.

“It would be a massive boost if we could get Duane Straugheir and Steve Thorpe back on the pitch this week,” Aston said.

“They watched the game last weekend and it is painful for them, as it is for us. We just need that bit of bite and desire and those two have that.”

Straugheir has been out since fracturing his eye socket in the defeat to Wakefield in the Challenge Cup, and his appearance would only be slightly ahead of his expected return.

It is a different story for skipper Thorpe who broke his cheekbone in the home defeat to Bradford, and is potentially looking at a comeback after less than a month on the treatment table.

“They are desperate to play,” Aston added. “The big thing for them is that they see the hole that we are in and they want to play.

“That is key for us, we need people who want to play.

“They will both be back to see the surgeons this week, they have been training and working hard so let us hope that we can get them back out there.”

Both have been named in the 19-man squad for tomorrow’s showdown with John Kear’s Bulldogs, whilst the list published by the RFL also includes Matty Fozard despite Aston revealing earlier in the week the former St. Helens ace faces potential surgery on a knee problem.